If the Skyway still existed ........

[eilie]

My understanding is that most skyway systems were taken out of theme parks/amusement parks/zoos/etc. all over the country following several safety incidents. The most famous is probably the one at Six Flags St. Louis, where one of the gondola cars fell off the cable and three people were killed. This was in 1978. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Six_Flags_parks. For obvious reasons, the skyway ride system fell out of favor after that.

Of course, there were also issues of accessibility, capacity, safety (from thrown/falling objects, spit, etc.) and show.

I was 10 when I rode the skyway the first time, and my most significant memory of the attraction is how gray Fantasyland looked from above. All I remember are the ugly rooftops. And though I liked the kinetics, I thought it was disruptive to the theming and immersiveness of Fantasyland (from above and below). Those massive column supports are not missed. It worked great in Tomorrowland though.

 

[Clever Name]

The Skyway was a terrible ride and I’m glad it was removed. However, it just demonstrates that even a terrible ride will garner a rabid fan base. For example, you could build the worst ride in the world and you’d find that some people would think it is wonderful. CBJ and IASW come to mind. :wave:

 

[dhoywdw20x]

The Skyway was a terrible ride and I’m glad it was removed. However, it just demonstrates that even a terrible ride will garner a rabid fan base. For example, you could build the worst ride in the world and you’d find that some people would think it is wonderful. CBJ and IASW come to mind. :wave:

I love the Country Bear Jamboree, it is one of my favorite attractions. ALso it allows me time to get FP for Spash or THunder while my family waits.

 

[progroupie]

CBJ and IASW aren't terrible attractions in the sense that they're badly done, the way attractions like SGE or the new JII are. It's just that not everyone likes them/some fine them annoying/some find them boring, etc.
IASW is extremely detailed and well done. It's an absolutly beautiful ride. CBJ was a landmark of AA technology.
There's a difference in a "terrible" attraction and an attraction with an annoying song.

 

[Edeyore]

OMG really? When?

I am not sure of the date, but they actually used to have a video on youtube of someone falling out of the Skyway. I believe it was after the turn somewhere over Fantasyland.

 

[Mickey_777]

The Skyway made MK look cheap...like other amusement parks that have a similar "ride" running. To me it also clutters the sky/view

 

[celluloid]

The Skyway was actually quite a violation of one of the most important rules for imagineering Disney parks, avoidoptical instrusions and the possibility to look from one land into other lands of the park. On ground level you cannot see the castle from Adventureland e.g. and imagineers try to avoid anything that disturbs the immerive qualities. So it is not exactly surprising that they finally removed the skyway, because you could see behind the facades and although the spitting and other antisocial behaviour from some morons that was the real reason why the sykway was demolished.

That is not even close to any of the reasoning behind its closure. The reasons being is these rides are hard to upkeep in comparison to others as well as not being able to run whenever a lightning storm is near. Disney unfortunately did not see the worth in keeping it going. Safety concerns after accidents and death did not help either.

I see what you are saying and in a perfect world they would always do their best to follow that but with the Skyway you kind of undersstood they could not hide everything. It was a magical gondola in the sky to another land of the park. Mixing Fantasy and Tomorrowland transportations.

If intrusions were that much of a concern..then we would not be able to see Contemporary from Liberty Square and so on.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

The Skyway was a terrible ride and I’m glad it was removed. However, it just demonstrates that even a terrible ride will garner a rabid fan base. For example, you could build the worst ride in the world and you’d find that some people would think it is wonderful. CBJ and IASW come to mind. :wave:

Country Bears and Small World are not horrible attractions. They are well done but half the guests appreciate them and the other half find them annoying. These are classics and far from universally hated.

The Skyway didn't bother me at all. I rode it the first time when I was 10. We stood in line and at the time I was extremely good at speaking French from school. There was a couple from Paris who told me (in French) that there is a new Disneyland opening up in 1992. I translated everything they said to my parents. For some reason, I never forget talking to those people.

Anyway, I was probably too young to appreciate the different themed lands so I never was bothered by flying above. I thought it looked neat. The last time I rode it was 1997. It didn't ruin the illusion for me.

Now those rides are scarce. There's the one in Busch Gardens and Cedar Point still has theirs, but honestly what other park in the States still does?

 

[flavious27]

No worse then the trip around FW or the WDW RR around MK.